L-glutamate and L-aspartate bind to separate sites in rat brain synaptic membranes

The specific binding of L-glutamate (L-Glu) and L-aspartate (L-Asp) was measured in rat brain synaptic plasma membranes (SPMs). A distinction between the binding sites for these amino acids was made on the basis of the kinetics, ion effects, pharmacology and chemical susceptibility of the binding. The existence of distinct binding sites for L-Glu and L-Asp is consistent with electrophysiological data that mammalian neurons possess separate receptors for these amino acids.